RA ministry of Economy submits bill on modernizing measurements in line with EU standards

ArmInfo. The powers of the  National Institute of Metrology of Armenia will be clarified and  expanded. Corresponding amendments will be made to the RA Law on  Ensuring the Uniformity of Measurements.  Presenting the legislative  amendments during a meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee  on Economic Affairs, Deputy Minister of Economy Narek Hovakimyan  noted that the National Institute of Metrology will be granted  additional functions. In addition to storing and maintaining national  standards, its responsibilities will also include new areas of  activity, including the examination of equipment related to precious  metals, as well as the creation of a metrology council.

He stated that the inspection body's powers will also be expanded,  specifically to include the function of verifying documentation and  implementing technical controls. The amendments to the law will  provide consumers with reliable and accurate information on the  quantity and volume of products, and manufacturers and sellers will  be obligated to ensure that these indicators are consistent with  those on packaged goods.

Special emphasis will be placed on the use of manual scales, which  must comply with EU requirements. This will ensure transparency and  accuracy in weighing goods in trade.  Ovakimyan also noted that the  new version of the law proposes using measuring bottles with specific  standards as measuring vessels for certain goods. This will create a  more transparent system for monitoring the volume of products  produced and sold.

Furthermore, work is planned to implement software that will  eliminate the possibility of intentional or accidental interference  with the operation of certain types of measuring devices. The Deputy  Minister explained that this is related to compliance with the  requirements of the EU Measuring Instruments Directive (MID), which  establishes uniform requirements for measuring instruments used in  trade, settlements, accounting, and control (e.g., water meters, gas  meters, electricity meters, heat meters, etc.). 

"These changes will increase consumer confidence, ensure fair and  transparent measurements, and enable Armenia to comply with EU  standards. The amendments to the law will also strengthen state  oversight in areas crucial to society and the economy and eliminate  duplication in legislation," the deputy head of the department  emphasized.  It is worth noting that the draft law received a  positive opinion from the Commission.